Florida bans Chinese citizens from buying land: 'We don't want the CCP in the Sunshine State,' DeSantis says
FOX NewsNov 24, 2022
The Facts
Following Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R-FL) signing of a bill that restricts people from China and six other countries from buying property in Florida earlier this month, a group of Chinese Florida residents filed a lawsuit on Monday, arguing that the bill is unconstitutional and violates the Fair Housing Act.
In addition to Chinese nationals who aren't US citizens or green card holders, the bill also affects most citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, and North Korea, barring them from owning property within 10 miles of any military installation.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Though the details need to be ironed out, this bill is a sensible measure in countering Chinese and other foreign states' influence in the US. For far too long, adversarial nations, namely China, have taken advantage of the US' free market to advance their geopolitical interests. Hopefully, more states will follow DeSantis' lead.
Democratic narrative
Though China may not be a benign force in US domestic politics, this bill is too broad, thus making it inherently discriminatory. The US prides itself on being the home of enterprise and freedom, and barring those interested in such ideals from pursuing their dreams is wrong. The US must prevent such discriminatory practices from occurring.